Understanding Addiction
The Christophers’ Vice
President, Mary Ellen Robinson, recalls a powerful sermon she heard a number of
years ago at a healing Mass for alcoholics, drug addicts, and their families and
friends. Delivered by a Carmelite priest, his words will stick with her
forever.
The priest said, “All of
you that are sitting here today who suffer from addiction, look at it as a gift
- then turn your addiction into an opportunity to help others. There comes a
time when an addict can be close to death and another addict who is in recovery
has the gift of breathing life into that human being. That is a gift in
itself.”
Having witnessed addiction
among family and friends, Mary Ellen is one of the 130 million people in the
United States affected by this disease. She explains, “It’s something that rips
to the heart of everyone connected to the person suffering from addiction. They
have to endure the secrets, the lies, and the abuse that go along with this
lifestyle. It is beyond imagination unless you’ve experienced it first-hand.”
Thankfully, there is hope
for addicts because of twelve-step programs around the country and institutions
like St. Christopher’s Inn, a ministry of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
in Graymoor, New
York. For over 100 years, St. Christopher’s has been a beacon of
hope for those who find themselves homeless because of addiction. At their
recent Board of Directors dinner, a young man shared the story of regaining his
sobriety and his life due to their work.
It’s also important to
remember that addiction moves you away from your relationship with God - though
God, of course, is always right there waiting for you to re-connect. In fact,
it’s His power that uplifts the human spirit and lets the chains of addiction
fall away.
A popular intercessor for
addicts is the Venerable Matthew Talbot who lived in Ireland during the late 1800’s. At the age of
28, Matthew took “the pledge” and never drank again. He had a great love and
devotion to the Blessed Mother, went to Mass daily, and financially supported
many religious organizations. He filled his spare time reading about the lives
of the saints, especially Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, and St. Catherine of
Siena. He died at the age of 69 on his way to Mass. Here is a quote from
Matthew:
“Three things I cannot
escape: the eye of God, the voice of conscience, the stroke of death. In
company, guard your tongue. In your family, guard your temper. When alone, guard
your thoughts.”
“I was a heroin and crack addict and alcoholic for 20 years. I would steal on a daily basis and have been to jail several times for drug and alcohol-related offenses. I got sick and tired of being sick. I am only seven months into recovery, but now I wake up every morning just happy to wake up. My most difficult day in recovery is a thousand times better than one in active addiction. I want to make sure every addict knows there’s a solution. No addict needs to feel helpless. I want to give addicts hope that there is something that works. There is recovery for everyone who wants it.”